Pioneer Bancorp, Inc./MD 8-K

What Happened
Pioneer Bancorp, Inc. (PBFS) filed a Form 8-K on July 29, 2026 announcing it has acquired The College Advisor of New York and launched a new College Advising Division. Dr. Dean Skarlis, founder and president of The College Advisor of New York, will lead the new unit as Vice President of College Advising, and his existing team will continue providing personalized college planning services integrated with financial strategy. The company included the press release announcing the launch as Exhibit 99.1 to the 8-K.

Key Details

• Acquisition and launch announced in an 8-K filed July 29, 2026 (Exhibit 99.1 contains the press release).
• Dr. Dean Skarlis named Vice President of College Advising and will lead the acquired team.
• The College Advising Division will deliver end-to-end college planning: school identification, admissions strategy, and integration of financial planning.
• The filing does not disclose purchase price or other financial terms.

Why It Matters
This move expands Pioneer’s service offering beyond traditional banking into college planning, which may help the bank deepen relationships with families and provide additional cross-sell opportunities for education-related financial products. For investors, the deal signals a strategic push into advisory services that complement lending and deposit relationships; however, without disclosed financial terms, the immediate financial impact on revenue or earnings is unknown.